Effect of CBD on Appetite
One of the things we've found when taking CBD is that we are less inclined to snack or over eat (inevitably blowouts still happen!) but day to day we've noticed this as a continued benefit of CBD.
Today we're breaking down the claims among CBD, appetite, and fat burning!
Firstly WHY does this happen? And is it legit?
As we know the body has a built-in endocannabinoid system. This system responds to different compounds in the body through two cannabinoid (CB) receptors, called the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Usually, CB1 receptors exist mainly in the brain and central nervous system and are almost nonexistent in the rest of the body. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, exist throughout the body.
In people with obesity, however, CB1 receptors become more widespread, especially in fatty tissue. Because of this, researchers believe that there may be a link between the activation of the CB1 receptors and obesity.
CBD does not activate the CB receptors directly, instead, it influences the body’s natural cannabinoids to either block off or activate the receptors. This may play a role in weight loss or other critical metabolic functions.
CBD + Appetite
So we know this is a little backward to say a cannabis product reduces appetite, as most people associate cannabis with a stimulated appetite (aka the munchies).
While it is true that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, may cause hunger, CBD does not.
THC activates the CB1 receptors in the body, causing many effects, including stimulating the appetite.
While CBD does not deactivate CB1 receptors it may influence other molecules to block them off. Shutting off these receptors is what may help reduce appetite and prevent overeating in some people.
Turning bad fat into good fat
In more exciting research CBD may convert white, or “bad,” fat into brown fat, which may help the body burn calories.
A 2016 study helps back up this claim. The researchers found that CBD plays multiple roles in how the body interacts with fat.
Not only did CBD help convert white fat cells into brown fat cells, but it also stimulated the body to break down fats more efficiently.
Researchers note that CBD may be a promising therapy for preventing obesity, but more studies in humans are necessary.
Fat burning
Another claim is that CBD melts away fat in the body by breaking it down and helping eliminate it from the body as waste.
Research from 2018 helps explain this phenomenon; the process of turning white fat cells into brown fat cells actually changes how these cells act in the body.
Brown fat cells may be a more active form of fat. They burn off energy as heat, meaning that they actually burn calories.
As a loss of calories is vital for weight loss, CBD may help burn fat if it turns white fat to brown fat in the body.
CBD is a complementary therapy
CBD is not a treatment for obesity or weight loss and does not replace a healthy diet and regular exercise.
A person who adds CBD to their weight loss plan without also exercising and eating healthfully may not see any benefits.
At best, people can consider CBD as a complementary therapy.
Not all bodies are the same, and each person may need a slightly different dose.
Research is still ongoing
To be noted research on these claims while exciting is ongoing and we are not stating these points as fact.
While there's a lack of human trials to support these statements a review in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research notes some highlights of past studies surrounding CBD and metabolic factors in animal models.
For instance, a treatment using CBD reduced total cholesterol by 25 percent in obese rats. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of CBD also appeared to decrease blood sugar levels and increase markers for liver health.
An older animal study from 2012 found that exposure to CBD reduced appetite in rats. While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that CBD is helpful for appetite suppression, there have been no direct studies that show CBD reduces appetite in humans.
Claims via Medical News Today
